Sensei to Stunt Doubles - Joao Cimurro

Competing and throwing opponents all around the world in countries including Brazil, Germany, Austria, Israel and Peru, this young Judo and BBJ champion has decided to bring his talent to Australia.

Hailing from São Paulo Brazil, Joao has competed on the world stage in Judo in arenas such as the European championships. His highlights of 2024 are 2nd in the Australian national championship, 1st in Qld championship and 1st in the Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra international opens!

When Joao is not competing he is coaching out of the Virtue BBJ gym on the Gold Coast. I first met Joao when interviewing Bridget Burt, one of his students who is a professional stunt performer for my Immortals Project.

I was intrigued by Joao not just for his athletic performances but because at only 23 he is sensei to some of Australia’s elite stunt performers that double in massive Hollywood productions such as Mad Max, Planet of the Apes and The Fall Guy.

Joao teaches these ‘stunties’ how to throw correctly and be thrown correctly, how to fall safely, and choreograph fight scenes for the movies they perform in.

I find it so inspiring that a young 23 year old has traveled across the globe to a foreign country with a different language to spread the message of Judo. (1.maximum efficient use of physical and mental energy 2. mutual prosperity (Welfare and Benefit) for self and others).

I can’t wait to keep track of where this journey takes him and to hopefully one day soon see him doubling in the next Hollywood blockbuster!

Stunt Double - Bridget Burt

Coming off the set of 2 movies in cinemas now, The Fall Guy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, is larger than life adrenaline seeker and stunt double Bridget Burt.

Interviewing and shooting Bridget for my personal project ‘Immortals’ I could of literally talked to her for hours about all her disciplines including; skydiving, wingsuiting, flyboarding, drifting, Muay Thai, BJJ, motorbike riding, rock climbing, jet skiing, horse riding, gymnastics and shooting!

Bridget uses Muay Thai and BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) to train for a lot of the physical stunts she performs as her role as an extra or stunt double in Hollywood movies.

The body awareness, flexibility and athleticism required for these sports lend themselves greatly to the fight scenes and stunts she has to perform on set.

When she is not training with her stunt double friends in fight gyms bridget is out doing something else considered crazy to us mere mortals. She is an avid skydiver and wingsuiter with hundreds of jumps under her belt but her current thrill she is chasing is upping her ability as a drift car driver.

Bridget can be found as a guest performer at the drift show at movie world but is currently spending a lot of time in Japan, learning how to ‘Tokyo Drift’ her way around the streets with some of the best drift car drivers in the world.

Growing up Bridget was not exposed to this extreme life and is now living out all her childhood dreams that she was deprived of. She started out with flyboarding which quickly led to her being picked up to perform overseas in China to crowds of up to… 80,000!

Bridget is an extremely humble and down to earth chick and I can’t wait to see where she takes her career in the future.

Rogan Dean

Champion. There are those that let a life trauma dictate their life and then there are those that do what ever the hell they were going to do anyway, Rogan Dean is the latter.

Growing up playing football, Rogan was living the life and pursuing his dream of playing for the NRL. In 2020 his life changed forever when he was hit by a car while on his motorbike and suffered a crush injury to his foot leaving him with the decision to either have a prosthetic foot or remove more of his leg to widen the range of prosthetics available and allow him to pursue his purpose.

To Compete.

Competing in any form is one of Rogan’s driving forces and it lead him to become the Crossfit Games Adapted Devision world champion in 2023. Winning gold after only his second appearance at the games (winning silver in 2022) and short time in Crossfit, Rogans achievements are incredible. Most of us fully abled people would wither at the physical feats that Rogan is able to put his body through as an adaptive athlete.

It was an inspiration and an honour to have Rogan sit for his portrait and allow me to hear his story for my Immortals project.

Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting!

Taekwondo* fighting! Competing at world championship level Taekwondo and representing the United Kingdom, Courtney Eardley has been to the pinnacle of her combat sport.

As a third dan black belt her hands and feet have become weapons, so don't let the pretty smile and charming personality fool you, she can mess you up!

Hanging up the competitive belt, Courtney now teaches Taekwondo through her online presence while she travels between Australia and Thailand learning new forms of marshal arts including Muay Thai and Brazilian JuJitsu.

In our interview Courtney shared what it was like to compete at the top level, both the good and the bad, opening up about the intense dieting verging on starvation put upon athletes to make weight for their devision. This compounds when competing in your treens and as a young woman with the changes your body is naturally going through.

Check out the full interview on my YouTube which will be released later this week.

Immortals Project Update

20%..!!! I am absolutely stoked to have crossed this milestone for my Immortals project!

Setting out to help 100 athletes take the image worthy of their story I knew I was going to meet some world class athletes, but still in this early stage I am blown away with the people I have met and the story’s I have captured.

Interviewing and shooting athletes from amateur part timers to pros on the world stage, so far there are a few traits they all have that make them great I think we can learn from.

  1. Unwavering long-term vision. All these athletes have days where they doubt themselves, don’t want to train, get injured, lose competitions, lose sponsors, have setbacks but continue to rock up and put in the work for YEARS until they reach the vision they have for themselves. The ability to just not give up over a long period of time results in being the last man standing and reaping the reward of experience.

  2. Doing the simple things to the 110%. We all want to jump straight to the Gucci, fun and sexy part of our pursuits once we have a novel understanding of the basics. But these guys take it to the next level in drilling the basics. Repeating a punch, gear change, movement until it is just as natural to them as breathing before trying to master the technical.

  3. No side projects. There is one project, one pursuit, one trophy. They don’t get distracted by every shiny object that comes their way. This is the mission, and the mission is all that matters.

I cant wait to see were this project takes me, the athletes I’m yet to meet and the images I can give to them as a memory of there sporting legacy in this moment in time.

You can watch some of the conversations here on my Youtube channel.

Hybrid Machine! James Newbury

Currently hailing from the Gold Coast, James is one of the most insanely driven humans I have met. When he is not working out, surfing or smashing a coffee, James is currently going pedal to the metal with his new supplement brand Phyba.

Coming off the back of an incredibly successful CrossFit career where went to the CrossFit games FOUR TIMES!, an iron man athlete and promoter of the hybrid method of training, James is putting all the lessons learned from his experiences into this new venture.

Upon meeting James for my Immortal’s project it became immediately clear that his humble, articulate and good nature is the reason he is one of Australia’s most liked Crossfit athletes and not just for his sporting accolades.

You can hear about Jame’s sporting adventures, current projects and where to find the best coffee on the Goldy on my Youtube channel where I interview him for Immortals.

In collaboration with Allied Magazine

Jake ‘The Machine’ Wyllie

Fighting out of the Fortitude Boxing Gym, Jake is a professional boxer and a down to earth top bloke.

One of the many pro’s that fight out of this prestigious gym, Jake holds multiple Queensland and Australasian titles with his sites set on his next fight on Sep 16th.

Coming from the small country town of Warwick QLD Jake grew up playing football until he found his love for the sport of Boxing. With a plethora of amateur fights he then turned his sites on a professional career currently sitting at 8 wins 1 lose.

Bringing the values of a country life, hard work, heart on your sleeve, down to earth, Jake trains hard and is always open for a chat and to lend his knowledge in the gym. It was a pleasure to take his portrait and gain his insight for my project ‘Immortals’ with my interview with him which you can watch on my YouTube channel.

This is What Strong Looks Like

When I first saw Lily at a powerlifting comp she was refereeing and I thought, ‘damn that chick looks strong!’ Little did I know how strong she really was.

Being an athlete in many sports throughout her life she eventually found her love for powerlifting. After grinding and competing for several years, in 2020 at the weigh in before another comp Lily was diagnosed with cancer.

Losing a ton of weight and becoming a shadow of her former self she defeated the beast and has come back insanely strong setting multiple Australian records all in the last 3 years.

Lily’s mental strength and resilience is an inspiration and mirrors her amazing physical presence that sets her apart in the sport of women’s powerlifting.

You can find out more about Lily’s story from my interview with her here on my YouTube channel.

Matty Mac!

As I scrolled down his Instagram feed my jaw dropped to the floor… ‘Who the hell is this guy!?’

For my first 2 portraits for my project ‘Immortals’ I hired the Gold Coast Studio which has now become my all-time favorite studio to shoot at. It is amazingly equipped and set out for my style with its minimal clean aesthetic and is run by one hell of a cool dude, Matt McFerran.

After finishing my shoot and talking to Matt I proceeded to Insta stalk him to find out about the owner of this cool studio and I was shocked at what I found.

His feed is filled with Matt sending the biggest freestyle motocross tricks, rad unique motorcycles and dirt bike adventures! Not what I expected from a photography studio owner.

In a past life Matt was a rider for some of the biggest Freestyle MX shows in the world including Nitro Circus and Crusty Demons, traveling and performing with them throughout the globe.

Needless to say, my curiosity was peeking, I had to find out more about this studio owner, photographer, freestyle mad man so I asked Matt if he would sit for his portrait for my project and get to know more about his life.

You can see my interview with Matt here on my YouTube channel.

It was great to get to know Matt and a connection that cant wait to work with in the future.

Gav Twist It Moto

"I have a strong desire to help people enjoy the sport of motocross racing just as much as I do."

At a young age, Gavin Heggs is making a significant impact in the motocross community. He operates a successful motocross coaching clinic on the Gold Coast, where he teaches both young and experienced riders how to ride hard, fast, and safely.

Despite being only 24 years old, Gavin has been running his business since he was 15 in Perth and made the bold decision during the pandemic to move his vision to the east coast.

I had the privilege of capturing the riders at his charity event 'Ride Safe' earlier this year, and it was evident that Gav’s work ethic is top-notch. Everyone agreed that he wholeheartedly dedicates himself to his riders and his passion for motocross.

As part of my project 'Immortals,' I had a chance to sit down with Gav, where he shared his journey from an up-and-coming rider to overcoming injuries and becoming a successful coach/entrepreneur. You can watch the interview on my YouTube channel.

It was m y pleasure to shoot Gav, and I look forward to seeing what exciting plans he has in store for the future.

Adrenaline, Discipline and Consistancy

Ash Timmins is not your typical boxer. While many fighters focus solely on their craft inside the ring, Timmins has discovered a unique way to enhance his discipline and consistency by incorporating his love for skydiving, trail riding, and track bike riding into his training regimen. Ash is one of the established armature boxes at Fortitude Boxing Gym and with his pro debut looming he shared with me the way these exhilarating activities have become essential tools in his pursuit of boxing excellence.

Skydiving: Conquering Fear and Mental Strength

Skydiving, with its adrenaline-pumping freefall and breathtaking views, may seem like an unlikely complement to boxing. However, for Ash, it serves as a powerful exercise in conquering fear and strengthening mental fortitude.

In boxing, remaining calm and composed in the face of your opponent is paramount. Skydiving provides him with a unique opportunity to confront his fears head-on, teaching him to maintain focus and composure in high-pressure situations. The rush of freefalling from thousands of feet in the air challenges his ability to stay composed, training him to remain calm and make split-second decisions—an invaluable skill in the boxing ring.

Trail Riding: Building Endurance and Resilience

Trail riding, whether on a mountain bike or horseback, demands physical endurance, resilience, and adaptability. These qualities are directly transferable to the sport of boxing, where fighters must endure grueling training sessions and maintain their resilience during intense bouts.

By engaging in trail riding, Ash builds his cardiovascular endurance, strengthens his leg muscles, and improves his overall physical conditioning. Moreover, navigating challenging terrains and adapting to unexpected obstacles during trail rides sharpens his ability to react swiftly and adapt to changing situations—skills that are crucial when facing diverse opponents in the ring.

Track Bike Riding: Precision and Speed

Track bike riding is all about precision, speed, and maintaining control in high-speed environments. These attributes are integral to successful boxing, as boxers must possess exceptional hand-eye coordination, quick reflexes, and the ability to execute precise movements.

By incorporating track bike riding into his training routine, Ash hones his coordination and reaction times, as well as his ability to control his body and movements at high speeds. The discipline required to maneuver a track bike with precision translates directly to the ring, where precise footwork, quick jabs, and well-timed combinations are essential.

While boxing is undoubtedly a demanding sport that requires focused training, Ash demonstrates the power of cross-training and the benefits of incorporating diverse activities into one's routine. By engaging in skydiving, trail riding, and track bike riding, he not only enhances his physical abilities but also nurtures his mental strength, resilience, and adaptability.

With Ash’s discipline and consistency combined with his relentless training routine, I am excited to track his journey as he progresses into the pro scene of Australian boxing.

Cassie - Energy, Empathy, Connection

Holy ball of energy! Cassie was an absolute pleasure to photograph. Not only did she have a natural ease in front of the camera, but she shared some incredibly insightful and profound thoughts on training, human interaction and life.

When it came to human interaction, her wisdom on empathy and connection with clients left me looking inward on how I can better engage with my subjects to draw their true selves out. This is a key part to my portrait sessions and when I get the opportunity to engage with someone that is very proficient at this I try to absorb as much of their insight as possible.

Her contagious smile really sums up her energy, where you couldn’t help but feel uplifted when in her pleasance.

Due to some audio technical difficulties, I was not able to record our talks before the shoot but I cant wait to sit down with her again to record her deep perspectives on being a great coach and a great human.

Luke

Immortals Project

We all desire to be remembered. My goal is to help 100 professional and semi-professional athletes in capturing an image that truly immortalizes their achievements and legacy. Throughout history, various forms of art, monuments, photographs, institutions, and memorials have been created to immortalize the extraordinary accomplishments of the exceptional individuals among us—the gods who walk among men. These athletes captivate our imagination, embody the essence of human potential, and push the boundaries of what is possible.

This project is my homage to the artists, poets, and architects who have paved the way before me, as well as a tribute to the athletes who have touched our hearts. It aims to capture images that offer us a glimpse into their souls, a chance to witness the spark in their eyes that makes them truly great.

Before each of my portrait sessions, I make it a point to engage in a casual conversation with my subjects, seeking to understand their uniqueness and what defines them. It is my responsibility to capture their essence. As part of this project, I have distilled these conversations into three key questions:

1. Why do you do what you do?

2. What are you currently working on that excites you?

3. What would you tell your younger self?

I have been recording the answers to these questions and sharing them on my Instagram, hoping that others will come to realize three vital truths: these athletes, despite their exceptional abilities, are human beings with relatable experiences; they have encountered obstacles on their journey and managed to overcome them, proving that dreams can be realized.

I have had the privilege of meeting remarkable individuals and producing some of my best work thus far. I am tremendously excited about the future of this project and the opportunity to work with more extraordinary athletes.

If you are an athlete striving for greatness or know someone who is, it would be my honor to capture your portrait and reveal your true essence. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me or share this opportunity with someone you believe deserves to have their image captured.

Luke

Maia Maia

Don’t let the pretty face fool you… She’s a killer! As part of the Fortitude Boxing Amature Team Maia is an up-and-coming fighter with great skills and insight beyond her years. As a seemingly timid and gentle soul around the gym I though it may have been a challenge to get her to open up on her thoughts about boxing and life for my Immortals project but I was pleasantly surprised! She shared some amazing insight on what boxing means to her and the effect it has had on her personal/ school life and mindset. We also created some of my favorite images to date showing her sweet side and natural athleticism. I look forward to tracking Maia’s growth as a boxer and young lady.

You can see more of her interview on my Instagram @luke.sartor

Building Health & Fitness Forward

Trading punches with each others faces in sparing, Sean and I became friends and I was introduced to his very stoic philosophy on training, business and life. With his business partner James, these gentlemen run one of Brisbanes leading health and fitness facilities with a thriving member community built on happiness, progress and integrity. It was my pleasure to have these men sit for their portraits and gain an insight into there minds on coaching, business and life.

You can see more sound bites from these gents on my instagram @luke.sartor

Sean Carroll

‘Im someone that thrives on having a purpose, hard work and having a growth mindset, so when there is ever some adversity to be had I find a way through.’

James Batey

‘By improving peoples health, wellness and relationship around food, mindset and body can leave them in a place of true belief.’

Freestyle MX ‘Ride Safe’ Event

G’day G’day all!

When reaching out to Gav for my project ‘Immortals’ I was lucky enough to have him invite me to his charity event ‘Ride Safe’ to help raise money to get youths on the right path.

Having 3 of Australia’s top Freestyle MX stars and influencers sit for their portrait was a massive high for me. Absolute top dudes Jayo Archer: one of only three human beings to land a triple backflip, Nitro Games competitor Jayden ‘Southy’ South and viral Instagram whip sender Mason Rowe shared with me some of their wildest stories and upcoming tricks and projects they are working on.

These guys were truly humble. ‘We all get scared, but we are just able to deal with it to put on the best show we can for the fans’, Southy.

The man behind ‘Ride Safe’ Gavin Heggs.

The man is always going at 110% with his motocross workshops and helping the up and coming motocross stars.

Top dude and can’t wait to take his portrait and interview him!

Have a sweet day!